Women in Wine Leadership Symposium was far beyond exceptional.
On Monday, June 3rd, Winebow Imports hosted the Women in Wine Leadership Symposium in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. This event marked the return of the in-person symposium, which had been held online during the pandemic. It was a fantastic opportunity to get inspiration and connect with female colleagues. Seeing so many women in the wine industry breaking barriers was quite unusual and inspiring. Despite the wine industry being mostly male-dominated, an increasing number of women are shattering the glass ceiling with support from their peers. The symposium included discussions about sustainability innovations and a panel discussion featuring the next generation of women from some of the most iconic estates around the world. Participants shared their significant achievements and challenges.
We were off to a great start with the energetic injection of the keynote speaker Lydia Fenet, who shared insights and personal experiences about being one of the few woman auctioneers at the exclusive Christie’s Auction House. She is also a bestselling author known for her book “The Most Powerful Woman in the Room Is You.” As a keynote speaker at the Women in Wine Leadership Symposium, Lydia shared her insights, personal experiences, and struggles in the book launching and often being the only woman in the auction events. Her confidence, presence, and inspirational message made the first event a memorable and empowering experience. On top of that, the women in the room were part of a bet experience by selling each other’s personal history, and doing it with so much inspiration was indeed a remarkable moment.
For the panel, Wanda Mann moderated with grace the conversation about the challenges and achievements women of the following generation wineries faced despite their different locations.
First, Veronica Cousiño from the Chilean winery of Cousiño-Macul shared her experiences growing up in the vineyards in Latin America and then taking over the winery.
Second, Leto Paraskevopoulos, second generation of Gaia Wines. Gaia is located at is one of my favorite places in the world – the Greek islands. Gaia was founded in 1994 by Yiannis Paraskevopoulos, an Agriculturist from AUT with a PhD in Enology from the University of Bordeaux III, and Leon Karatsalos, an Agriculturist from AUT. At present, both daughters of these enterprising individuals are leading the Santorini arm of the business.
Finally, Joey Wolffer, a partner at Wolffer Winery, joined this panel as a local New Yorker. Joey became involved in the family business after overcoming various life struggles. She lost her father, the founder of the business, in a tragic accident. Joey is a designer and trendsetter who leads Wolffer Estate Vineyard, a winery in the Hamptons region of Long Island, New York. She prouds herself on leading with a clear vision and boundaries. The vineyard is renowned for its high-quality wines, including merlots, chardonnays, and, of course, an extensive line of summer rosés. Additionally, the winery offers a range of events and experiences. For instance, wine tastings and vineyard tours make the winery a popular destination for wine enthusiasts.
Some of the comments on this panel revolved around the challenges of working with family, including communication, shared vision, and balancing personal life.
During the event, we were fortunate to witness the presentation of pioneering sustainability innovations by renowned leaders we greatly admire. One of the standout presenters was Laura Catena and the esteemed founding partner of Chateau Mirabeau, Jeany Cronk.
For the closing remarks, Leslie Sbrocco highlighted a reflection on Wellness and shared the ride of a life well-lived amidst cancer diagnosis. Sbrocco is an award-winning author, speaker, consultant, and television host. She is an expert in wine, food, and travel. Leslie has appeared on numerous television programs, including The Today Show, and has written several books on wine. She is a passionate advocate for women in the wine industry. She has promoted diversity and inclusion within the wine community. I was unfamiliar with her, but her struggles sounded like something I could connect with. I admire her tenacity in keeping going and never turning off the lights of the show.
As an emerging leader and founder of Latinas Wine Club Inc., I felt deeply grateful to have experienced the Women in Wine Leadership Symposium.
First, there are few spaces to connect with women in wine leadership in a local space. The more extensive forums are at an international level. As an entrepreneur, time is what I do not have much of. Moreover, I don’t have the resources to travel all over the world to connect and have these experiences. Second, these leaders do not fit the mold, and I often don’t fit either. I am one of the women who want to have different roles and create harmony between them, and I, of course, focus on doing so with wellness. Having a professional career on top of all the other roles is essential to being a woman, and we should always take care of it.
During the forum, we were reminded of how to thrive in the community and do so with wellness, which struck me deeply. Hence, I felt very inspired by being around so many women leaders from different parts of the world. Their support fueled my determination to keep pursuing my goals because I want to, not because I have to.
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